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New Details on How U.S. Sailors Got Off Course; New Poll Shows Clinton Lead Narrowing in Iowa; Remembering Alan Rickman; "Sunshine Superman" Profiles BASE Jumping; Powerball Blitz. Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired January 14, 2016 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:29:36] BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's really logical to conclude at this point that they had no choice. It is likely in these circumstances the commander of the unit at sea, which appears to be the sailor who spoke although we don't know that for sure, you know, made the decision that they would not get into a gunfight. It would have been a suicide fight.
U.S. military members always, 24/7, have the right to defend themselves. But a commander makes a decision based on logic and reason. He is not necessarily -- he/she is not going to be in the business of ordering personnel into a suicide mission. That's not what this is all about.
He indicates that they tried to talk to the Iranians, but at this point when they are talking to the Iranians we know that -- pardon me -- that there are multiple Iranian boats out there and we know they are outnumbered by Iranian personnel and this is Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the most assertive portion of Iran's military unit. So they know they're in trouble at this point.
And he clearly makes the decision they're not going to get into a gunfight. We will have to see if that decision gets second guessed. Right now, no indication from the navy in these early days that they are anything but supportive of their sailors.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're glad they're safe and sound and back in U.S. custody. That is for sure. Barbara Starr, Buck Sexton -- thanks to you both.
And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
In just about 30 minutes President Obama will hold a town hall event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It's all part of the President's push to hammer home the Democratic agenda and urge Americans to reject partisan bickering.
When it comes to the Democratic candidates hoping to have his job though, the campaign is certainly heating up. Voters in Iowa now starting to feel the Bern according to a new Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register poll which shows Hillary Clinton edging Sanders, Bernie Sanders, by just two points. Last month Clinton was ahead of Sanders by nine points in this same poll. So let's talk about that with CNN's senior political
correspondent Brianna Keilar and CNN senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns.
Brianna -- first to you --tell us more about these polls.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a poll, Carol that a lot of political observers are keenly observing. They've been sort of anxious for a "Des Moines Register" poll because the pollster who does this poll actually is really seen as someone who pulls out the gold standard when it comes to numbers. So this is something that people are really looking at.
42 points Hillary Clinton, 40 Bernie Sanders -- so you see the race tightening. But what's interesting when you look at the shift here from last month, it might not be so much that people are feeling the Bern as they aren't feeling Hillary Clinton because she has actually dipped in the polls. And you see those undecideds, 14 percent, that is actually a huge jump of people who are uncommitted from -- pardon me -- from last month as you can see there.
Now, Bill Clinton on the campaign trail, he's actually downplaying not just this poll certainly, but the number of polls that we have seen of the race tightening. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All they're doing now, as they should be doing, is talking about the differences in their positions. That's good. That's healthy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What about the polls tightening, does that surprise you?
CLINTON: No. I'm surprised it didn't happen 60 days ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So he says not surprised. He thought that it would have happened sooner. But I will tell you this is a real -- this is a tooth and nail fight that is going on in Iowa, especially because Hillary Clinton is so far behind Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire.
But when you heard Bill Clinton there say, look, they're talking about the issues, they're drawing contrasts, it's interesting also in this poll, Carol, we see that more Democrats think this is an election where Democrats in New Hampshire -- pardon me -- Iowa, think this is an election about issues over leadership.
That's significant because people who say they're more about the issues over leadership more likely to go for Bernie Sanders. People who are more about the leadership are more likely to go for Hillary Clinton.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Ok.
So, Joe, the President will hold a town hall in just a matter of minutes. Is he campaigning? What exactly is this tour he's doing?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is more of the outside the beltway sojourn following the State of the Union address. And the stated purpose, I think Carol of this town hall is to talk about education, but it's a free wheeling format and just about anything can and will be discussed there.
Now, we will be watching to see whether the President expands on his criticism of the anti-Muslim rhetoric that's been on the campaign trail. He didn't name names last night in Omaha, Nebraska but clearly he was singling out some Republicans who in turn have been singling out followers of Islam in some of their comments. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That doesn't mean that you go around insulting people and thinking that that is clever. Or that is being honest. Or telling it straight. No, that's just being offensive. And that's feeding some of our worst impulses.
And that does not make us strong. That doesn't make us strong. And that doesn't help us fight terrorism, by the way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:35:09] JOHNS: That was a huge crowd, by the way. You talk about campaign style in Omaha, Nebraska last night. By some estimates about 11,000 people. The President trying to pursue his goal of reconciliation between the parties, which is one of the goals of this administration that just never got done, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Joe Johns, Brianna Keilar -- thanks to both of you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, today Hollywood is mourning the loss of actor Alan Rickman. A look back at his most famous roles -- next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Sad news this morning. We've lost another cultural icon. Alan Rickman -- he died of cancer. Of course many of you grew up with him through the "Harry Potter" movies. You knew him as "Professor Snape".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:39:59] ALAN RICKMAN, ACTOR: If anyone in here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I'd like them to step forward -- now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Wow, that voice -- it was incredible, right? Of course he had many other films under his belt including "Harry Potter", "Love Actually", "Robin Hood," "Prince of Thieves", he played Hans Gruber in "Die Hard" way back in 1988.
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling tweeting moments ago quote, "There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman's death. He was a magnificent actor and a wonderful man." Rickman was only 69 years old.
Brian Stelter is with me now. Another performer we didn't know he had cancer.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That's right. His close friends and family did know. This was apparently a short-lived battle with cancer. And condolences are pouring in now both from Hollywood on the West Coast, also from London where he was an acclaimed star on the stage in theater even before making the jump to movies. "Die Hard" his first in 1988 and what a movie to put him on the map.
Let's share what Emma Thompson wrote this morning, speaking to "The Guardian". She described him as the finest of actors and directors. "Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him good-bye. He was the ultimate ally in life, art, and politics. I trusted him absolutely. He was above all things a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again."
Carol, he does have another film coming out. It's already in the can, so to speak. It's going to be coming out in March. He plays a lieutenant general in the movie "Eye in the Sky". It's a movie about the U.S. drone war. He starred alongside Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul. It's set to come out in a couple months.
COSTELLO: So we don't know anything about his illness, what kind of cancer he had or --
STELTER: No, because this only happened this morning, couple hours ago. Unclear where he died but we're told he was surrounded by friends and family. It was somewhat expected for them at the time.
COSTELLO: All right. Brian -- I just can't believe it. Wow. Brian Stelter, thanks so much.
STELTER: Thanks.
COSTELLO: You can catch "RELIABLE SOURCES", by the way, with Brian Stelter every Sunday morning 11:00 Eastern.
Checking other top stories for you at 42 minutes past, three New York area college students are dead after a bus crash in Honduras. Two of the students were from Columbia University. The other was a student from Barnard College. The students were all on a volunteer mission. 14 others are being treated for injuries.
Chicago, now changing course and dropping its long standing objection to the release of video showing the deadly police shooting of an unarmed black teenager. 17-year-old Cedric Chatman was shot as he ran from two officers back in January of 2013. Attorneys for his mother have been pushing for the video to be
released as part of a wrongful death suit arguing the video shows the teenager was running from police and never turned toward officers.
Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips has apparently committed suicide in prison. The 40-year-old was awaiting charges -- awaiting trial rather on charges of killing his cell mate last year. He was found this morning -- or Wednesday morning rather by prison officials. Phillips was a first round draft pick for the St. Louis Rams in 1996. He lasted only three seasons in the NFL.
I'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:47:33] COSTELLO: The Oscar nominees are in. So who will take home Hollywood's biggest prize next month you ask? Well, for best actor the nominees are Bryan Cranston for "Trumbo", Matt Damon for "The Martian", Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant", Michael Fassbender for "Steve Jobs" and Eddie Redmayne for "The Danish Girl".
For best actress nominees are Cate Blanchett for her role in "Carol", Brie Larson for "Room", Jennifer Lawrence for "Joy", Charlotte Rampling for "45 Years" and Saoirse Ronan for "Brooklyn".
The 88th Annual Academy awards will be broadcast live on February 28th.
It is called the deadliest sport in the world, so why on earth would anyone want to do it? BASE jumpers with wing suits seeking a thrill.
CNN Films' "SUNSHINE SUPERMAN" profiles the so-called father of the sport, the short life of the fascinating man behind the highs and lows of BASE jumping -- Carl Banish.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Carl was an innovator. He's probably the only one in Hollywood or in the area that was known for flip over photography.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Background of Carl Banish and his films. Carl Banish's early start. He has been able to put off going back to work two months at a time such that for over the last ten years he's never had to go back to work.
And as the custom in making film payments instead of car payments, as it's worked out in the past, Carl Banish usually spends about two years to make one 15-minute film.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you were jumping with Banish it was expected that you were going to be wearing a helmet-mounted camera or possibly two. That was Carl's main focus was to share the wealth, share that feeling. To share the feeling with people who didn't understand it. That thought we were absolutely crazy to do something like this. But once you see it and see the beauty of it, I think people tend to understand the motive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It is beautiful. But it is a little crazy. Why would a perfectly sane person jump off a cliff parachute or not.
Let's talk about that with BASE jumper Rick Harrison. Good morning -- Rick.
RICK HARRISON, BASE JUMPER: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So are you crazy?
[10:49:54] HARRISON: Well, some people might think so. But it was generally accepted by the U.S. attorney's office and other jobs I had as a lawyer.
COSTELLO: No, tell me about --
HARRISON: I think I was crazier back then.
COSTELLO: Why was it crazier back then than now?
HARRISON: It was a much more dangerous sport. It was a transition out of sky diving. And it was -- the equipment was more dangerous then. It was new. Now it's becoming much more mainstream, I think, than it used to be.
COSTELLO: Still, an estimated 275 people have died from BASE jumping since 1981, so is it really worth it?
HARRISON: Well, I guess it depends on who you are. It could be done safely and -- well, relatively safely. And it can be done with a lot more reckless abandon. And worth it is an objective term or subjective term. It's worth it to people who really crave that feeling. The only way to get that feeling is to jump off of something.
COSTELLO: So explain to me what exactly that feeling is when you jump off of a building.
HARRISON: Well, the most important second is when you go three, two, one and you actually exit. When you go past the point of no return, it goes from sheer terror to almost sheer exhilaration. If you get a good exit and you know you're not going to tumble or go out of control, then it's pure elation. The next pure elation is when the canopy opens properly. It's something that it's almost impossible to describe.
COSTELLO: Well, I bungee jumped once, so I kind of know what you're talking about. It terrified me and I'll never do it again. I don't have any desire doing it. In my mind, I've done it once, that's it. But you do it again and again and again.
HARRISON: Yes. It kind of becomes addictive when you first started. I had sort of phased out of sky diving a little bit. I hadn't jumped in about six months when my twin brother came down from Iowa and he had done a tower. And we wanted to do a big building in Houston and that was where everybody was jumping, used to be the Texas Commerce Building -- 1,000 foot building. Once I did that I was hooked all over again. I yelled out a rebel yell that echoed through downtown.
COSTELLO: So is there a minimum height for professional divers like yourself?
HARRISON: There really is. Height has come down considerably over the years. Back when we were using sky diving equipment we really didn't like jumping off anything lower than 300 or 400 feet because we needed that to get the parachutes open. Nowadays my wife and I issue the BASE numbers. We've issued BASE numbers to people that have never even seen 300 feet. They go a lot lower than that. The equipment has gotten that much better.
COSTELLO: Just talking about it and thinking about it my palms are sweating. Just looking at that makes me nervous. So what should we take away from this documentary?
HARRISON: Well, Carl Banish was such an unusual man to grow up in a world of sky diving that he did back in the 70s when partying, drugs and all that was quite a bit part of the sport.
Carl didn't do either. Didn't drink, didn't do drugs. He was totally committed to photography. And once he started BASED jumping in El Capitan in '78 he, like a lot of us, just got hooked. And that became his entire world. And he was so enthusiastic about it that it kind of rubbed off on you.
COSTELLO: I can see that.
HARRISON: Carl was -- he was all about the film. It was all about the film with Carl. If you're going to jump with Carl, you were going to be wearing at least one camera.
COSTELLO: Well, I can't wait to see the documentary. Rick Harrison -- thank you so much for being with me this morning.
HARRISON: Thank you very much, Carol. Good to meet you over the air.
COSTELLO: Thank you. You're welcome. "SUNSHINE SUPERMAN", by the way, airs this Sunday night 9:00 Eastern only on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:58:11] COSTELLO: Odds are you did not hit the Powerball jackpot last night, but if you played, odds are you're like this.
Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We have been over powered by -- CROWD: Powerball.
MOOS: -- from a guy waiting in line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One and a half billion dollars, come on. Get real. You've got to have a ticket.
MOOS: To a woman hoping she's in line to be president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You buy a Powerball ticket?
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I did.
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": Late shows, Powerball tip number one, pick only winning numbers. OK?
MOOS: That's what employees at Grissini (ph) Restaurant thought they did Saturday night as the bartender read off the winning numbers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sixty-three. Yes. Powerball 17.
MOOS: Turns out they were reading the wrong day's numbers but for a blissful 20 minutes they thought they hit the jackpot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 20 minutes most important of my life.
MOOS: A valet and dishwasher prematurely quit.
CHARLIE POVEROMO, BARTENDERR, GRISSINI RESTAURANT: He took his apron off, threw it to the floor and said, I'll never wash another dish in my life. Valet guy, one of the customers asked for his car and he said, go get it yourself.
MOOS: Both men got their jobs back.
Buying all those lotto tickets may leave you in a financial hole, but a Texas man ended up in an actual hole.
His family reported him missing when he didn't return from buying a lottery ticket. Fort Worth police found him uninjured at the bottom of a seven-foot construction hole, presumably with his ticket.
Reporters have been asking the same question.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What would you do with it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A bunch of hookers and cocaine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, that's not good. We were hoping for a different answer.
MOOS: Only joking, he later told "Inside Edition".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a smart ass.
MOOS: Jimmy Kimmel mocked the media for how we express the low odds of winning.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Roughly 25 times more likely to become president or be killed by a vending machine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Replace your GPS with a monkey -- your chances of reaching your destination are better with the monkey than winning the Powerball jackpot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be struck by lightning and a bus at the exact --
MOOS: Guess he won't be winning.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.
"AT THIS HOUR" with Berman and Bolduan starts now.
